Brides Health - Taking Care of Your Nails

On the day of your wedding your hands will be on show probably more than at any other time in your life.

People will want to look and admire your wedding ring, your bouquet, hold and kiss your hand, plus think of all those photographs that will show your hands on your husband’s back, around his waist, holding your bouquet, cutting the cake and toasting your new husband.

Brides Hands on Show

While your hands are going to be on show the things that stand out first and foremost is going to be your nails.

Nail shapes can be square, oval or rounded and short, long and worse still bitten nails will stand out like a beacon on your special day.

The last thing you want is to make yourself feel awkward by trying to hide your nails all day and to feel self-conscious about something that with a little bit of time, care and patience can easily be sorted.

To enable you to have nails you will be proud to show off make sure to use those weeks leading up to your wedding to include pamper time for your nails.

Home Brides Fingernail Manicure

Set aside 15 to 20 minutes each week to give yourself a good manicure. Best time is after your hands have been in water such as showering, bathing or washing the dishes.

Remove old nail polish by moistening cotton will nail polish remover. Press and hold over the nail for a few seconds them with firm movements wipe off old polish by bringing the cotton from the base of the nail to the tip.

With an emery board or a file, shape the nail from the corner to the centre. Do NOT use a see-saw motion as this could cause nail splitting or ridges in the nail.

Use warm, soapy water to soak your nails in for a few minutes – this helps removes any dirt. Pat dry with a soft towel and with an orangewood stick gently clean under the edge of your nail.

Using the blunt end of the orangewood stick GENTLY push back the cuticle.

Apply clear nail polish and once this is dry you can apply a coloured varnish. Allow this to dry and coat over the top with the clear polish.

Once your polish is firmly dry you can add moisturising in the form of cream or lotion and play particular attention to the cuticles.

Wedding Nail Tips

Some top tips for keeping your nail in great shape.

If your nails are in bad condition to begin with you may benefit more by giving them a daily treatment by soaking those digits in warmed olive oil. This will help to strengthen them.

Your nails will be soft and pliable after a warm bath/shower and this is the best time to cut them.

Improve the flow of blood to your nail bed by rubbing both sets of fingernails against each other for a couple of minutes.

Nail polish removal can cause your nails to dry out so try not to use more than once a week. The professions advise not to use removal polish more than twice a month.

Polish kept in the fridge will last longer.

Nail polish that has gone thick can be helped by adding nail polish thinner.

Stained nails can be treated by mixing one part bleach with ten parts water. Soak cotton or a Q-tip and rub on.

We Need Our Nails

Nails are not there for beauty but as a protection to the rich nerve endings of our fingertips and toes.

They are composed mainly of Keratin which is a type of protein and the state of our nails can help with diagnosing any underling health problems.

Nails can indicate health problems such as pink nails indicate a good supply of blood and are considered healthy, whereas excessive dryness very rounded and curved darkened nails can show an insufficient intake of vitamin B12.

Nails help us to pick up small objects.

Food to Help Nails Healthy

Pumpkin seeds

Sunflower seeds

Oatmeal

Nuts

Eggs

Organic/bio dynamic yogurts

Fish and seaweeds

Brewer's yeast

Parsley

Evening primrose oil

Ground flaxseed (sprinkle over cereal)

Horsetail, Oat straw and Nettle infusions

Cosmetic Nail Products

There is a vast selection of cosmetic nail care products to help your nails look fantastic for your wedding, all in their own way help towards you having elegant nails for your wedding day and although the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is true in a lot of cases, where nail care is concerned you yourself can help costs by taking more care of your nails and following a basic home treatment.

As long as you have the bare necessities such as moisture cream/lotion, warm soapy water, emery board, orangewood stick you are halfway there to having beautiful nails for your wedding and honeymoon.

Other Suggestions to Gain Healthy Nails

Eating a healthy diet is another way you can help maintain strong nails.

Always wear gloves when gardening or washing dishes.

Cover nails and hands with cream, cover with cotton gloves and sleep in them.

Do not pick or bite at your cuticles. This could lead to fungi bacteria growing.

Keep fingernails trimmed and clean under the nail regularly.

Do not use your fingernails to pick, pry or poke things with.

If you nails are naturally thin keep them short.

Avoid products that contain formaldehyde or toluene sulfonamide. These can cause redness or irritation to the skin around the nails.

Do not bite or pick your nails.

Beautiful brides in elegant and sophisticated dressed with skin glowing from happiness certainly do not want to mar any appearance by the let down of nails.

If you find that after everything has been done and you have tried to get your nails as lovely as possible but nothing has worked – then go for the option of having fake nails for that perfect and special day in your life and let the shape and condition of your beautiful nails shine in your confidence.